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Websleuths News

Join Websleuths Radio for the final discussion of THE KILLING SEASON
with Josh Zemam, Rachel Mills and special guests including Bob Kolker author of Lost Girls

Scott Johansen was on his way to work Tuesday night when he came across the suspect, Stephen Bielicke, Tuesday night at a Lewisville gas station. Police say Bielicke had been going from one convenience store to another using pay phones or store phones to call and threaten his ex-wife and children. Bielicke was also reportedly waving a gun and provoking strangers at the stores.

For unknown reasons, Bielicke began following Johansen and then opened fire on Johansen's car on Interstate 35 near Main Street. Johansen was struck in the head by one of the bullets...

Bielicke was arrested and initially charged with aggravated assault and held on $250,000 bond. Lewisville police said Friday night they have obtained a warrant for murder with a pre-set bond of $500,000.

Police said Bielicke had been driving around to several convenience stores and calling and threatening his ex-wife from store phones or pay phones Tuesday evening when he bumped into Johansen. The two men did not know each other, police said, but witnesses said Bielicke had been screaming at Scott Johansen without provocation at a store in the 1700 block of East State Highway 121 Business.

Bielicke allegedly got into his small sports utility vehicle and followed Johansen’s vehicle, authorities said. Johansen’s son said at least six shots were fired at his father and his car, according to the benefit page.

When a bullet struck his head, Scott Johansen crossed over the grass onto the highway and struck the center guardrail in the 200 block of South I-35E, officials said.

Johansen’s fate changed while he was inside one of the stores Bielicke went to that night. At each store, witnesses said Bielicke attempted to create a confrontation with people in the stores. When the two crossed paths, Bielicke began screaming at Johansen.

“The randomness of the offense was one of the challenges for this case. It’s very uncommon for a murder to occur when it’s completely random,” Hiemke said. “The nature of the case made it so senseless and tragic. Johansen just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Johansen left the store, but Bielicke continued pursuing and shooting at him from the store to the scene of the accident. During the guilt phase of the trial, Hiemke said the prosecution had to show that Bielicke intended to kill Johansen by methodically going through all the evidence.

“Bielicke made four turns, followed Johansen for two to three miles and shot possibly up up to nine times,” Hiemke said. “We tried to hammer it in that it wasn’t that Bielicke was trying to scare Johansen. He intended to murder him.”

After handing down a guilty verdict, a Denton County jury sentenced Stephen Bielicke to 65 years in prison for the shooting death of an unarmed Flower Mound father and grandfather.

Bielicke was facing five to 99 years or life in prison. Hiemke said anything greater than 60 years is the equivalent of life in prison. By the time he is eligible for parole in 30 years, Bielicke will be 83.